Apparatus for supplying wateb to steam-boilers



UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

GEORGE BRODIE, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,477, dated June 8, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Bnonm, of Little Rock, in the county ofPulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and ImprovedSelf-Regulating Device for Supplying Steam-Boilers with ater; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinalcentral section of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse centralsection of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the twofigures.

The object of this invention is to gradually supply steam boilers withwater equal at all times to the amount evaporated and used, so that thewater within the boiler will be constantly kept at a given height and bythe most simple means, requiring the least possible expenditure of powerfor its operation.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention I will proceed to describe it.

A represents an iron cylinder of proper dimensions according to the sizeof the boiler to which it is applied. This cylinder may be connected tothe side or to either end of the boiler, or, it may be placed within itat such a height that the line (a) will. be the high water mark, and thedotted line (b) the low water mark.

In each end or side of the cylinder A there is placed a horizontalcylinder B. These cylinders project into two hot water cisterns C, C,the water being heated by the escape steam. The line (a) (the high watermark) it will be seen is on a level with the upper surfaces of thecylinders B, B, and the line (b) (the low water mark) is on a level withtheir lower surfaces.

D, D, E, E, are pistons which work within the cylinders B, B, two ineach cylinder, said pistons being on a rod F which is fitted in suitablebearings (Z) (Z). The pistons are placed at such a distance apart thatwhen each pair is in its cylinder the pistons will be at opposite endsof it, or in other words, the space between each pair of pistons isequal to the length of its cylinder less the thickness of the pistons.The pistons work steam tight within the cylinders B, B.

The cisterns C, C, are always keptsupplied with water and areciprocating motion is given the rod F, either direct from theprincipal engine or a small engine may be used for the especial purpose.

G, is the steam pipe connected with the boiler, not shown, and H is thesupply pipe communicating with the lower part of the boiler, or thepipes G and H and cylinder A, may be dispensed with, and the boileritself, used instead of cylinder A, or in other words, cylinder A, wouldthen be the steam boiler.

From the above description of parts it will be seen that as the outerpistons D, E, of each pair project or pass out from the outer ends oftheir respective cylinders a volume of steam, equal to the capacity ofthe chamber or space formed between the water level and the top of thecylinders between the pistons, will be drawn into the cisterns C, and asthe pistons return an equal volume of water will be forced into thecylinder A from the cisterns O, the pistons of each cylinder moving ofcourse simultaneously, one pair feeding the boiler while the other pairis passing out and discharging the steam. By this arrangement the boileris supplied with water without any resistance being offered to itsentrance. The pistons are perfectly balanced and all the power requiredto operate the device is merely enough to overcome the inertia of therod and pistons and the slight amount of friction attending theirmovement.

I would remark that the space between each pair of pistons should be ofsuch capacity that the volume of water admitted into the boiler at eachstroke may slightly exceed the volume of steam generated within theboiler and used during the time occupied in making the stroke. This ismerely to insure a suflicient supply of water; for if the supply exceedsthe amount evaporated no harm can ensue for the water within the boilerwill merely reach the line (a) and the pistons of course, so far as theadmitting of water within the boiler is concerned will remaininoperative or as much will be forced in the boiler as is drawn out ofit. If the rod F be worked at a proper speed the water line will remainbetween and (b). It herein shown and described of the cylinder can neverbe above (a) and if Worked at the A, cylinders B, B, pistons D, D, E, E,and 10 proper speed will not reach a point becisterns G, C, for thepurposes set forth.

10W 6). I 5 Hiving thus described my invention What GEORGE BRODIE Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Let- Witnesses: ters Patent, is,WILLIAM S. DAVIS,

The arrangement and combination as M. M. ELDER.

